A personal exploration of Wiccan spirituality

Gemstone: Blue Quartz

A double terminated quartz crystal deeply colored blue by inclusions of fine needles of indigolite, a tourmaline. You can see that the needles are oriented randomly in the crystal. From the Jenipapo Mine, Itanga, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Blue quartz is something of a catch-all term for any quartz with a blue hue. Naturally occurring blue quartz generally comes by its appearance through one of three ways:

evenly distributed inclusions of blue minerals, like magnesio-riebeckite or tourmaline

more coarse grained, massive, macrocrystalline forms not unlike aventurine quartz that is also colored by embedded blue minerals, like dumortierite.

Rayleigh scattering in opalescent glass: it appears blue from the side, but orange light shines through.

Additionally, a fourth type of blue quartz can be found marketed under the name “aqua aura quartz.” This is a natural quartz crystal that has been coated with gold through a process called vapor deposition. Essentially, the quartz is heated to about 1600°F in a vacuum to which gold fumes are added. The gold bonds to the crystal’s service which gives it a blue, iridescent sheen.

Quartz appearing blue from Rayleigh scattering will often lose its blue hue when viewed from another angle since the blue color is a byproduct of light polarization. If light it shone directly into the quartz, an orange-ish light will be seen through the quartz, similar to the demonstration with the glass seen to the right here.

Macrocrystalline blue quartz is far more opaque and can often be mistaken for sodalite, especially if its coloring is due to denim-hued dumortierite. However, its quartz base allows it to be polished to a high sheen whereas sodalite will be very dull in comparison. The blue coloring in this type of quartz is unlikely to be evenly distributed and will be banded or clustered with lighter or white patches.

Melody’s Love is in the Earth notes that blue quartz activate[s] the throat chakra and promotes speaking one’s mind. It also helps to attune oneself to fellowship with the planet. Most importantly, it helps release introversion and fear while promoting experiences which are fresh and new. It assists one in removing the fear of reaching-out to others and brings stimulation to new relationships. Melody also notes that blue quartz produces a comforting resonance, generating a composure during states of disruption and confusion, thus allowing one to enjoy the actions of being independent and uninhibited. It assuages fear, helping one to see that the basis of fear is only incomplete knowledge; it assists one in gaining completion of this knowledge. It can be used to encourage consideration and thoughtfulness and is helpful to relationships. In addition, it has been used in the treatment of spleen disorders, the endocrine system, and the blood, and to stabilize the metabolic processes.

Dumortierite quartz, and a very dark blue specimen at that!

Melody also notes that that when the color is formed by the inclusion of blue rutile, tourmaline, or zoisite inclusions, it combines the properties of these inclusions with that of quartz. Since much of the blue quartz sold in North America gains its color from dumortierite inclusions, she notes that dumortierite itself can be used to reduce excitability and eliminate stubborness while promoting the continuance of “standing-up” for oneself. It can also provide the stamina to retain one’s sense of self in harsh environments. She also notes that dumortierite is an excellent stone for patience and for recognizing the potential with anyone one is involved with. It can also help one to understand the reality in illusion and illusion in reality. As such, it can stimulate the verbalization of spiritual ideas and can ground love matches. It’s also useful in treating wasting disorders and to provide strength in the face of disease. Generally, it’s useful to help one understand and correct the cause of disease and imbalances.

An aqua aura quartz cluster

Of aqua aura quartz, Melody says that it combines both the properties of quartz and gold, and can produce a very intense energy. Like other blue quartz, it stimulates the throat chakra and opens its channel. It can be used to activate other crystals for healing and to cleanse and smooth the aura and release negativity from the emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual bodies.

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About the Project

I'm Melissa Zupan. This blog began in 2008 as a record of my attempt to work through Timothy Roderick's book, "Wicca: A Year and a Day." Since then I joined up with a merry coven of Gardnerian witches and became an initiate in 2013.
The blog is now a fuller record of my life and work in Wicca. Right now, there's no main theme. I just write what I want to write.

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